Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 2753.1

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 77478

Introduction: MS Add. 2753.1 consists of two fragments from the lower halves of two consecutive parchment leaves of a manuscript with hagiographic content (the fragments are classmarked according to the position in the enclosure at the time of the acquisition, and text in fragment b precedes the one in fragment a). The surviving portions of text come from the Passion of St Eulampius and Eulampia and the Passion of St Probus, Tarachus and Andronicus. The two texts are by Symeon Metaphrastes, or Symeon the Metaphrast (10th century), who rewrote numerous existing hagiographical texts. The fragments formerly served as endleaves in Cambridge, University Library, MS Mm.1.11 (a mid-14th century manuscript of Euripides) before the present binding, as we can trace from some notes and physical features. On f. [b] recto some lines are added in the lower margin: the inscriptions of a name, 'J. B. Hautin' and two descriptions, the more recent one in French: 'heuripides' (i.e. Euripides) and 'manuscrit oriental tres ancient'. Jean-Baptiste Hautin (ca. 1580-1640) was a French scholar, numismatist and book collector. After his death, Hautin’s two sons and his son-in-law inherited his library, and later, part of the collection passed to his nephew, Jean-Baptiste III. It is very likely that one of the namesake sons added the ex libris 'J.B. Hautin' preserved in several manuscripts, sometimes together with a more or less brief description of the contents. MS Mm.1.11 also used to belong to J.B. Hautin and still bears his ownership inscription. In addition to this, the dimensions of the two fragments correspond, as do the areas of affected by damage, with the stains and holes present on the codex. Portions of the textile that previously made up the binding of Mm.1.11 also remain on both fragment 2753.1.a and the manuscript, and are the same colour and material. Dr Matteo Di Franco

Language(s): Greek

1. f. [b] recto - [b] verso

Symeon Metaphrastes, Passion of St Eulampius and Eulampia

Incipit: || [b] recto, col. A προσήγοντο οὖν οἱ μάρτυρες· ὁ μὲν θεῖος Εὐλάμπιος· διὰ τὸ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐκκεκόφθαι

Explicit: [b] verso, col. A καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρὸς κατὰ τὸ ἐπάγγελμα ἀνεκήρυξε, καὶ κοινωνοὺς τῆς δόξης||

f. [b] verso, col. A: PG 115, 1065 lines 5-12
f. [b] recto, col. B: PG 115, 1065 lines 21-29
f. [b] verso, col. A: PG 115, 1065 lines 39-46

BHG 617

TLG 3115.064

2. f. [b] verso - [a] verso

Symeon Metaphrastes, Passion of St Probus, Tarachus and Andronicus

Incipit: || [b] verso, col. B θεομισῆ ταύτην ματαιότητα ἑξαπλοῦν· ταύτητοι καὶ πολλοὶ μὲν τῶν πιστῶν τὴν δι(άνοι)αν ἐσαλεύοντο

Explicit: [a] verso, col. B τούτου πολλῶ βαρύτερός τε καὶ χαλεπώτερος· τῶν μαρ⟨(τυρικῶν)⟩ ||

f. [b] verso, col. B: PG 115, 1068 lines 5-12
f. [a] recto, col. A: PG 115, 1068 lines 22-29
f. [a] recto, col. B: PG 115, 1069 lines 5-12
f. [a] verso, col. A: PG 115, 1069 lines 20-27
f. [a] verso, col. B: PG 115, 1069 lines 37-44

BHG 1575

TLG 3115.065

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: f. [b]r-[a]v Parchment, thick.

Extent: Fragment (two leaves) 2 leaves. 138-147 × 210 mm.

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

Two columns; 13 surving lines per column. 85-95 × 154 mm. Pricking does not survive. Ruled in hardpoint, system not detectable, type Leroy 32D2 comparable with the lower half.

Hand(s)

The text was copied in a mixed minuscule script, upright, in brown ink, with little variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations are not used and superscript word endings do not appear. Breathings are angular, and mute iota is absent.

Punctuation used includes the lower, middle and upper points and the lower and middle commas.

Binding

The fragment is housed in melinex.

Accompanying Material

Former enclosure comprising a light brown envelope, addressed to 'C. Sayle, Esq., University Library', i.e. C.E. Sayle (1864-1924) , and bearing notes by his hand ('Add. 2753(1, 2)') and another ('Greek MSS').

History

Origin: The style of script suggests that the manuscript from which this came was copied in the 11th century.

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by Francis Jenkinson (1853-1923) , University Librarian 1889-1923.

Bequeathed to the University Library by Francis Jenkinson in 1923.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card. For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Joining the Library). For further enquiries, and to confirm the availability of the manuscript, please contact the Special Collections Reading Room.

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 2753.1

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